Carbureting apparatus



(No Model.) Q 4Sheets Sheet 1;.

- L. J. PHELPS.

GARBURETING APPARATUS.

- Patented Mar. 29, 18927 H h'HHrk (.No Model.) 4 Sheets Sheet 2.

L. J. PHELPS. GARBURETING APPARATUS.

No. 471,773. Patented Mar. 29, 1892..

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(No Model.) 4 sneak-sheet a.

L. J. PHELPS. GARBURETING APPARATUS.

No. 471,773, Patented Mar. 29, 1892.

4 Sheath-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

L. J. PHELPS. GARBURETING APPARATUS.

Patented Mar. 29, 1892.

III/M zifwzi 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Lucius J. PHELPS, or PAssAIo, NEW JERSEY.

CARBURETING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,773, dated March 29, 1892. Application filed March 6, 1891- Serial No. 383,969. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUoIUs J. PHELPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Passaic, county of Passaic, and State of New J ersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oarbureting Apparatus, fully described and represented in the following specificationand the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to that class of apparatus by which a volatile hydrocarbon is vaporized and mixed with atmospheric air to produce an illuminating-vapor which is popularly. known as illuminating-gas, and which for convenience will therefore be called gas in the following specification. This invention relates particularly, however, to apparatus of that class in which the vaporization of the hydrocarbon is affected by heat, as distinguished from the well-known cold process, in which the vaporization is effected by passing atmospheric air through or in contact with the volatile hydrocarbon.

The invention consists in the general arrangement and construction whereby an improved organized machine is provided, and in various details of construction and combi nations of parts in the machine, whereby the construction is greatly simplified, its cost reduced, and its operation rendered more certain, reliable, and satisfactory.

The machine in which my inventionis embodied has been designed as animprovement upon the machine shown and described in my application, Serial No. 328,451, filed October 28, 1889; and the invention consists in part of improvements upon that machine, these improvements, however, being of general application in this class of construction and resulting in a complete organized machine differing, essentially, in construction and operation of parts from that of my prior application.

A full description of the machine embodying the improvements forming my invention in their preferred form will now be given,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which-' v Figure l is a side elevation showing the complete machine, a part of the reservoir being broken to show the gage. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the machine, showing the operating parts. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a sectional elevation looking to the right from line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail section of the pump. Fig. 6 is a detail section .of the air-pump and connections for supplying air to the gas. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3, showing the receiving-chamber forming a part of the retort. Fig. 8 is a detail of the pump-plunger. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8, and Figs. 10 and 11 show modifications hereinafter referred to.

Referring tosaid drawings, A is the reservoir, B the casing surrounding the gas-holder and parts connected therewith, and G the retort-casing containing the vaporizing apparatus. The reservoir is entirely and the gasholder casing B partially sunk in the ground, as shown in Fig. 1, and the reservoir is provided with a filling-pipe D, extending up ward to the surface. The retort-casing C may be supported in any suitable manner, but is preferably carried above the ground by the standards E, mounted upon the reservoir A. Within the casingBis the gas-holder F, which is ofthe usual inverted-cup form, and within which is mounted the vertical cylinder G, of somewhat less diameter than the casing B, so as to form an annular chamber, in which the edge of the gas-holder moves, this annular chamber being filled with the sealing-liquid, preferably oil, this being a common arrangement of gas-holders.

In order to control the supply of hydrocarbon to the vaporizing apparatus directly by the holder, I provide the following construction, locating the working parts of the pump directly within the casing B and the reservoir A below the same. On the lower side of the reservoir B is secured in any suitable manner a cylinder 10, closed at its lower end,'this cylinder being preferably made screw-threaded, as shown, so as to be readily secured to and removed from the reservoir. Within the cylinder 10 is asmaller cylinder 11, to which is connected by a coupling 12 a tube 13, extending upward through the reservoir and into the cylinder G within the casing B. The coupling 12, together with the cylinder 11, forms the pump-chamber, the tube 13 being closed by the bushing 14: between the same more ports 2.

and the chamber. The cylinder 13 is supported by its connection to the coupling 12 and the cylinder 11. Within the cylinder 13 is mounted a long tube 16, which is preferably of considerably smaller diameter than the cylinder and extends through the bushing-14 and into and nearly to the end of the cylinder 11, this tube 16 being supported by the bushing 1-1 and by a plate 17 at the top of the cylinder 13, in which the tube fits tightly, and the tube 16 and cylinder 13 are both held in an exact central position by means of three or more arms 18, connected to the upper end of the tube and extending outward horizontally against the wall of the cylinder G. These rods 18 simply bear against the cylinder G and are made adjustable, preferably by a screw connection with the tube 1-6, so that the parts may be adjusted to an exact central position, and the rods 18 may be loosened when it is desired to remove the parts from the casing, as hereinafter described.

The tube -16 forms the pump-cylinder, is open at its lower end, and communicates with the cylinder 13 through one or more ports 1, the cylinder 13 in turn communicating with the hydrocarbon in the reservoir A by one'or WVithin the tube 16 moves the pump-piston, which consists of the packed piston 19, having the central pump-valve 20, closing'communication between the lower end of the tube 16 and the chamber 21, forminga part of the piston, which in turn con municates with the tube 16 above the piston by ports 3. The piston is preferably weighted sufficiently to secure the desired pumpingpressure on its fall; but the same result may be secured by a spring, which is obviously the equivalent of the weight, or spring-pressure may be added to weight-pressure, if desired.

The valve 20 is constructed so as to remain open and allow the hydrocarbon to pass through as the pump-piston descends slowly, but is closed by arapid descent of the piston.

The piston-rod 22 passes upward through tube 16 to the top of the casing B and is pro vided within the tube 16 with a stop 23 and at its upper end extends through a plug 24 in the upper wall of the holder into a small elongated chamber a, which, preferably, is carried thereby to prevent an escape of gas. The stroke of the plunger may be adjusted in any desired manner; but I prefer to use the construction shown, in which the length of the piston-rod is adjustable, the upper end of the rod being screw-threaded and provided with adjusting-nuts 9. Upon the top plate Not the cylinder 13 is a pivoted catch 25, held normally by the weight 26 in ahorizontal position, with the catch inside the tube 16 and in the line of movement of the stop 23 on the piston-rod 22. The catch 25 is connected by an arm 27 and connecting-rod 28 to a trip 29, encircling and sliding freely upon the pistonrod 22.

The pump-chamber formed by the cylinder 11 and coupling 12 is connected by means of the short pipe 30 and valve-box 31 to the supply-pipe H, by which the hydrocarbon is conveyed to the receiving-chamber of the retort, the pump-tube 16 opening belowinto the pump-chamber, as before described. The supply-pipe H is made in two parts connected by a coupling 32, placed inside the casing B, so that by uncoupling the supply-pipe all connected parts of the pumping apparatus are in line with the casing and may be raised and removed from the casing and reservoir. The valve-box 31 is provided with a check-valve 33, which is preferably provided with a small opening 4, by which any oil remaining in the supply-pipe after the delivery of the charge is allowed to flow freely and uniformly back to the pump-chamber.

The vaporizing apparatus and connections for conveying the gas to the holder will now be described.

The vaporizing apparatus consists, primarily, of the retort I, which, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, is horizontal inside the casing C, where the heat is applied for vaporizing the hydrocarbon, and is inclined upward and extends outward beyond the casing O to form an incline, down which the oil is fed to. the horizontal vaporizing portion. Outside the casing the retort connects directly with a receiving-chamber K, to which the charge of hydrocarbon is delivered from the supplypipe H. The connection of the receivingchamber with the retort is of substantially the cross-area of the receiving-chamber and retort, so that the passage of the hydrocarbon from the receiving-chamber to the retort and of vapor from the retort to the receivingchamber is unobstructed, and the flow of hydrocarbon tothe retort is controlled directly by the pressure in the latter, and the receiving-chamber forms, practically, a cooler part of the retort and constitutes a condensingchamber, in which any vapor passing into it is cooled and condensed for return to the retort. The hydrocarbon is delivered from the supply-pipe H into a small chamber 34, from which a sharply-inclined pipe 35, which forms an extension of the supply-pipe H, extends inside and partly through the length of the receiving-chamber K. The receiving-chamber K, as shown clearly in Figs. 4 and 7, is set at a slight incline, so that the hydrocarbon will flow slowly out from the receivingchamber into the retort I, the sharp incline of the pipe 35 and the force with which the hydrocarbon is driven up by the pump securing the delivery of the entire charge within the receiving-chamber K before any of the hydrocarbon passes back down the slight incline of the receiving-chamber to the retort I. The receiving-chamber is shown placed at right angles to the retort; but this is not necessary, as it may consist of the inclined portion of theretort and the hydrocarbon be de- Lil livered up the incline, flowing back to the heated portion of the retort after the full charge is delivered.

The retort I is preferably inclosed within the wire-gauze cylinder 36 and is heated by gas delivered within the gauze from a perforated pipe 37, forming a burner, this pipe being connected by means of a feed-pipe L with the conducting-pipe through. which the gas passes from the retort to the holder, as hereinafter described, an injector 38 being preferably inserted between the feed-pipe and burner to draw in a supply of air. The heating-flame of the burner 37, when it is supplied retort I upward through a short vertical pipeor chamber 43 and through an injector 44 to a horizontal arm of the pipe N, by which the gas is conveyed to the holder, the injector operating to draw in air for combination with the vaporized hydrocarbon to form gas through an air-pipe O and trap-box P. The

. liquid to the holder.

preferred form of trap-box is shown in Fig. 6. The trap-box consists, essentially, of the chamber 45, forming an enlargement of the pipe 0 and communicating with the air through open ports 5 in a cap 46 and port 6, controlled by a small metal valve 7, which is free to rise and fall within the cap 45 to allow the air to pass through the port 6 into the interior of the cap 46, and thence to the chamber 45 and air-pipe 0 through the ports 5. The injector 44 is screw-threaded and adjustable for varying the amount of air drawn in through the air-pipe O, and removable plugs 47 are provided for cleaning the retort and the upper horizontal portion of the conducting-pipeN and for reaching the injector 44.

The pipe N extends outward and downward from the retort to a plane just above the reservoir, being partially below ground, as shown in Fig. 1, and thence passes horizontally to the casing B and delivers the gas within the lower part of the cylinder G and holder F. A part of the horizontal portion of the pipe N is preferably formed into a seal R, this part being filled with any sealing-liquid, preferably glycerine, below the level of which the vertical portion of the pipe N extends, so that the gas passes from the pipe N through the The main S communicates with the pipe N between the holder and the liquid seal R, and the feed-pipe L for the heating-burner communicates with the vertical portion of the pipe N between the seal R and retort. As the pressure from the holder is not transmit- .Fig. 2.

reservoir.

ted through the liquid seal to the vertical por tion of the pipe N, the gas transmitted through the feed-pipe L to the heating-burner is subjected only to the pressure of the gas within the retort, so that, While no gas is being made in the vaporizing apparatus, no gas is fed through the pipe L to the heating-burner, and the flame is extinguished, while the feed-pipe M for the permanent burner 39, being connected to the main, is subjected to the pressure of the gas in the latter and supplies gas to the permanent burner as long as any remains in the holder or main.

It is an important feature of my invention that the supply of gas to the heating-burner is controlled directly by the pressure of vaporor gas in the retort, so that the use of regulating-valves of any kind is avoided and a perfectly-automatic control of supply oht ained with a construction of the greatest simplicity. Whilethe arrangement shown is that which I have found preferable changes maybe made therein. For instance, the heating-burner may be fed directly from the retort instead of through the conducting-pipe,

as shown in Fig. 10, the injector 38 being extended to form a small supply-pipe communicating with the retort above the level of the hydrocarbon as it passes to the heated por- 'tion.

Any other suitable device preventing the gas passing back from the holder to the retort maybe substituted for the liquid seal R, such as a I spring-pressed check-valve 48,

as shown in Fig. 11, the valve forminga seal. 7

casing O for the vaporizing apparatus is ventilated to supply air to the permanent and heating burners, all as shown clearly in As the reservoir A is below the surface of the ground, it is necessary to provide some means for indicating the amount of hydrocarbon therein. For this purpose any suitable means maybe employed; but I prefer to use that shown, which consists of a small tube 48, which extends inside the res- This tube is held in a gas-tight bushing in the upper end of the filling-pipe and is nor-- mally tightly closed, but when withdrawn to the level of the liquid in the reservoir and opened allows the gas which is held above the hydrocarbon in the reservoir to bubble out through the tube. The point at which this bubbling is heard indicates, by a scale upon the tube, the amount of hydrocarbon in the forms no part of the present invention, but

,ervoir and passes through the filling-pipe. I

This measuring device, however, i

is claim ed in my application above referred to.

The operation of the complete machine will,

the heating burner extinguished, the gas, however, being still fed through the pipe M to the permanent burner, keeping the flame of the latter alive. As the gas is drawn from the main the holder F descends, the pumppiston descending with it slowly, the hydrocarbon passing the valve 20, which is still open, until the stop 23 rests upon the catch 25, when the piston remains stationary until the lower end of the plug 24 strikes the trip 29, and through the connecting-rod 28 and arm 27 trips the catch 25, allowing the weighted piston 19 to fall. As the piston falls the valve 20 is closed by the resistance of the hydrocarbon in the tube 16 below the piston, and the hydrocarbon in the tube is forced out through the pump-chamber 11 and pipe 30 into the valve-box 31, past the valve 33, and through the supply-pipe H into the receivingchamber K. The weightof the piston is sufficient so that the pressure induced by its fall forces the charge of hydrocarbon through the supply-pipe and into the receiving-chamber, the incline of the pipes 35, through which the hydrocarbon passes into the receiving-chamber, and the pumping force being sufficient to overcome the resistance afforded by the slight incline of the receiving-chamber K and to pile up the entire charge in the rear end of the chamber. As the pressure of the pumpplunger ceases after the delivery of the charge into the receiving-chamber, any hydrocarbon remaining in the supply -pipe flows back through the small opening 4 in the valve 33 into the pump-chamber. The charge now passes slowly down the incline of the receiving-chamber K through the inclined portion of the retort into the horizontal portion forming the retort proper, Where the vaporization of the hydrocarbon is commenced by the heat of the permanent burner, thus creating a sufficient pressure to force the vaporized hydrocarbon to the-heating-burner 37, Where it is ignited by the permanent flame, thus setting the vaporizing apparatus fully in operation. The gas formed of the air drawn in through the air-pipe O and of the vaporized hydrocarbon then passes through the pipe N and the liquid seal R to the lower part of the casing B, where it enters the holder F through the cylinder G. With the construction of retort and receiving-chamber shown no pressure Whatever is produced in the retort until the full charge has been delivered to the receiving-chamber of the retort, which forms, also, a condensing-chamber for the latter. As the hydrocarbon passes down the incline some of the vaporized portion passes back up the incline to the receiving-chamber, is cooled, condensed, and then passes again down the incline to the retort, the receiving-chamber acting as a condensing-chamber to prevent any sudden and excessive pressure'in the retort. With this construction and the short vertical pipe or chamber 43 at the'delivery end of the retort the difficulty caused by the passage of unvaporized hydrocarbon through the reservoir is practically avoided. In case, however, that for any reason unvaporized hydrocarbon does pass to the liquid seal R the overflow of the latter caused thereby will pass through the pipe N and opening 15 into the reservoir, so that no waste will result. As the gas passes to the holder and the latter rises, which continues of course until the entire charge has been vaporized, the holder carries with it by the plug 23 and nuts 9 the piston-rod 22, in accordance with the charge for which it is adjusted. On this upward movement the stop 23 upon the piston-rod passes by catch 25, which is beveled on the under side to render this more easy, as shown in Fig. 2. VVhen the charge is consumed, all pressure in the pipe N ceases, and no gas remaining in the heating-chamber its flame is extinguished, to be relighted again by the permanent burner upon the delivery of another charge into the retort and its vaporization, as before. The holder F reaches its highest position upon the completion of the vaporization of the charge. The delivery of the gas to the holder then ceases and the holder again commences to fall as gas is withdrawn from the main, the pump being again released by the descending holder, and the operation already described repeated.

When the machine is to be set in operation after refilling the reservoir, there being no gas in theholder, the operation is as follows: a

The top of the casing B being removed, the holder F is raised by hand to its highest position, the key 42 being opened so as to admit air through the feed-pipe M. As the holder is raised a vacuum is created below it, so that the air is drawn through the pipe M, main S,

and pipe N to the casing B below the holder.

A sufficient amount of hydrocarbon remaining in the pipes is vaporized by the air to fill the holder F with a combustible gas. The raising of the holder also carries up the pu mppiston, setting the latter for the delivery of a charge to the receiving-chamber of the retort. The key 42 being closed and the permanent burner being lighted, it is allowed to stand for a few minutes until the heat of the permanent burner has heated the retort sufliciently to commence vaporization of the charge of hydrocarbon when received. The machine is then ready for action. This'is the most convenient manner of restarting the machine; but it is not absolutely essential that the key 42 should be provided for this purpose, as the raising of the holder has been found to draw in a sufficient amount of air through the air-pipe O, pipe N, and liquid It is evident, also, that- IOO IIO

The machine may be conveniently set in operation for the first time by opening the fillingpipe D and actuating the holder by hand, so as to draw in and force into the'pipes and retort the highly-carbureted air above the hydrocarbon in the reservoir, air being drawn in through the filling-pipe to supply its place. Other methods of starting the machine, however, will readily suggest themselves.

It will be seen that while all the parts of the pump are held firmly in position, by removing the coupling 32 and loosening the arms 18 the holder and all parts of the pump, including the pump-chamber inside the short cylinder 10, may be removed from the top of the casing for inspection or repair. By locating the pump directly below the holder and providing means for adjusting the position of the pump-cylinder I am able to insure the exact central connection of the pump-piston to the holder, preventing any sidewise drag upon the latter. a

While I have shown and described a complete organized machine of my preferred construction, it will be understood that the construction shown may be varied widely without departing from my invention, and that the improvements forming the present invention and claimed herein may be applied to gas-machines the general construction of which is different from that shown; also, that some of the improvements are applicable, also, to machines of other classes employing hydrocarbon-vaporizing retorts.

What I claim is- 1. In a gas-machine, the combination, with the retort and a receiving-chamber located above the retort and having a direct connec tion with the retort of substantially the full cross area of the receiving-chamberand retort, of a supply-pipe connected with said receiving-chamber, a pump constructed and arranged to deliver a charge of hydrocarbon through said supply-pipe to said receivingchamber at a single operation, a gas-holder, and means for conveying the gas from the retort to the holder, and connections between said pump and holder for operating the pump, substantially as described.

2. In a gas-machine, the combination, with a receiving-chamber, of a supply-pipe connected with said receiving chamber, a pump constructed and arranged to deliver a charge of hydrocarbon through said supply-pipe into said receiving-chamber at a single operation, and a retort located below and having a direct connection with the receivingchamber of substantially the cross area of the retort,

and receiving-chamber, substantially. as described.

3. In a gas-machine, the combination, with a retort, of a receiving-chamber inclined downwardto and having a direct connection with the retort, of substantially the cross-area of the retort and receiving-chamber, a supplypipe connected with said receiving-chamber and arranged to deliver hydrocarbon up the incline of the receiving-chamber, and apump constructed and arranged to deliver a charge inclined sharply downward inside the receiving-chamber, the receiving-chamber and pipe being inclined in opposite directions, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with aretort, of the receiving chamber K, inclined gradually downward toward the retort, pipe 35, inclined sharply downward inside the receiving-chamber, the receiving-chamber and pipe being inclined in opposite directions, supply-pipe H, and a pump constructed and arranged to de* liver a charge of hydrocarbon into the receiving-chamber through the supply-pipe and pipe 35 at a single operation, substantially as described.

6. In a gas-machine, the combinatiomwith the hydrocarbon-reservoir and supply-pipe, of a gas-holder, a pump-cylinder connected with the reservoir and supply-pipe, a weighted pump-piston mounted centrally to the'holder,

and connections'whereby the pump-piston is raised by the holder and released on its descent to force the hydrocarbon through the supply-pipe, substantially as described.

- 7. In a gas-machine, thecombination, with the hydrocarbon-reservoir and supply-pipe, of a gas-holder, a pump-cylinder connected with the reservoir and supply-pipe, and a weighted pump-piston arranged to be raised by the holder and operating on its descent to force the hydrocarbon through the supplypipe, substantially as described.

8. In a gas-machine, the combination, with the hydrocarbon-reservoir and supply-pipe,

of a gas-holder mounted above the reservoir,

a pump-cylinder connected with the reservoir and supply-pipe, and a weighted pump-piston arranged to be' raised by the holder in its upward movement and released by the do scending holder as it reaches a certain point, substantially as described.

9. In a gas-machine, the combinatiom'with the hydrocarbon-reservoir and supply-pipe, of a gas-holder mounted above the reservoir, a pump-cylinder connected with the reservoir and supply-pipe, a weighted pump-piston arranged to be raised by the holder in its upward movement, a catch for holding the piston in its raised position, and a trip operated by the descending holder to release the piston, substantially as described.

10. In a gas-machine, the combination, with the hydrocarbon-reservoir, of a gas-holder above the reservoir, a casing surrounding the gas-holder, and an automatic pump located within said casing and removable with said holder, substantially as described.

11. In a gas-machine, the combination of reservoir A, cylinder 13, supported in said reservoir and carrying catch 25, tube 16 in said cylinder forming a pump cylinder, weighted pump-piston 19, moving in said pump-cylinder, piston-rod 22, arranged to be raised by the holder and having stop 23, arranged to be engaged by said catch, trip 29, moving freely on said rod and arranged to be engaged by the descending holder, and connections between said trip and catch for re- 4 leasing the latter, substantially as described.

12. In a gas-machine, the combination, with the holder F and a pump-cylinder, of weighted pump-piston 19, piston-rod 22, carrying stop 23 and passing through the top of said holder, adjustable nuts 9 on said rod outside said holder, catch 25, engaging said stop and holding the piston in its raised position, trip 29, moving freely on said piston rod and arranged to be engaged by the descending holder, and connections between the trip and catch for releasing the latter, substantially as described. l

13. In a gas-machine, the combination, with a gas holder and retort, of a pipe for conducting the gas to the holder, a seal on said pipe through which the gas passes to the holder, a heating-burner for the retort, and connections whereby the burner is fed by gas from a point on the retort side of the seal, substantially as described.

. 14. In a gas-machine, the combination, with my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUCIUS J. PHELPSL Witnesses:

GEORGE P. RUST, JULIA T. PERRIN. 

